Machine for applying fasteners to envelopes



Dec. 17, 1935. V v E, HEYWOOD 2,324,763

MACHINE FOR APPLYING FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES Filed Nov. 1, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet l Jill/5721b? VE. WOOD Dec. 17, 1935. v. E. HEYWOOD MACHINE FOR APFLYING FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES 7 Sheefs-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 1, 1932 ATTORM 1366- 1935- v. E. HEYWOOD MACHINE FOR APPLYING FASTENERS T0 ENVELQPES 7 2 3 OJ 1 1 v m dww e i F Dec. 17, 1935- v. E. HEYWOOD 2,024,763

I MACHINE FOR APPLYING FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES Filed NOV. 1, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR g4. .jigi'woop ATTORNEY Dec. 17, 1935. v. E, HEYWOOD 2,024,763

MACHINE FOR APPLYING FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES Filed Nov. 1, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 17, 1935. v. E. HEYWOOD MACHINE FOR APPLYING FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES 7 sheets-sheet 6 Filed Nov. 1, 1932 g x M W 1 a 4 7 O M B i 6 0 j AW. ,2 a

INVENTOR VEJ'L qywooD BYW 7 fl M/ ATTORNEY Dec. 17, 1935. v HEYWQOD 2,024,763

MACHINE FOR APPLYING FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES Filed Nov. 1, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 z g c Jnnntbr V. Jig wool: w

Patented Dec. 17, 1935 ilNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR APPLYING FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES 18 Claims.

The present invention relates to a machine for applying fasteners to envelopes, particularly fasteners of the so-called double button and string type, inwloich a fastener washer, or button, is

5 provided on the outside of an envelope body to cooperate with a similar button affixed to the envelope flap, with a string having one end secured to the flap button, so that it may be led back and forth between the buttons to effect clo- 10 sure of the envelope.

Briefly stated, the invention contemplates the provision in a single machine that is entirely automatic in its operation, of means for removing envelopes, or other blanks, from a suitable l5 sup-ply and presenting them, one by one, in flat condition to a fastener attaching station, at

which the fastener buttons and string are applied by suitable mechanism, and means for withdrawing the envelopes from the attaching station, with the buttons and string attached thereto, and delivering them to a suitable stacking device. In addition, the machine provides in combination with the above mentioned instrumentalities, means for automatically rendering the button and string applying devices inoperative, upon failure of the envelopes to feed properly, means for readily adjusting the feed mech anism to handle envelopes of different dimensions and mean for counting the completed envelopes 3 delivered to the stacking device. The above and. other advantageotm features of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- is a view in front elevation of a machin embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1, as viewed from the left.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the machine: shown in Fig. l, with portions removed to show the transfer mechanism.

Fig. l is a horizontal sectional view along the line l4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

5 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line %5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction 6 is a fragmentary view showing, on an enscale, details of the mechanism for oper- 59 ati' g the envelope transfer disk and stops.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the parts shown in Fig. 6.

8 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the stop mechanism, as viewed from the right in Fig. 6.

Application November 1, 1932, Serial No. 640,694

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view, partially in section, showing on an enlarged scale the fastener attaching devices with reference to the envelope gaging and counting devices.

Figs. 10 and 11 are fragmentary sectional views 5 along the lines I0l0 and ll-Il of Fig. 9, respectively.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

General description of machine Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine generally comprises a table I providing upwardly extending brackets. 2 for carrying a downwardly inclined feed board 3. The feed board 3 serves to support a plurality of envelopes, or other suitable blanks 4, to which it is desired to attach fastening devices of the character previously referred to. The board 3 cooperates with an adjustable stop plate 5, which serves to maintain the envlopes 4 in a substantially vertical position with their. longitudinal edges bearing on the board 3, a weight 6 slidably mounted on the board 3 serving to press the stack of envelopes toward the stop plate 5, with the innermost envelope 4 resting on a. flexible retard or separator 3a carried by the board 3.

The envelope 4 nearest the vertical stop plate 5 is adapted to be engaged by a pair of feed wheels 1, l, preferably providing segmental selectors la surfaced with frictional material, so that each revolution of the feed wheels 1 serves to move the innermost envelope 4 downwardly, past the flexible retard 30., towards a vertical feed plate 8 and into the bite of cooperating rolls 46. 35 After an envelope 4 is cleared from the feed wheels 1 and rolls 46, it is free to fall along the face of the plate 8, a spaced guide plate 9 serving to prevent the envelope from falling away from the face of the feed plate 8. As an envelope passes between the plates 8 and 9, its downward movement is arrested by the engagement of its lower edge with a number of stops [0 adapted to project through slots l I provided in the plate 9, see Figs. 6 and 8. The stops [0 are carried by arms l2, all mounted on a cross shaft I3 adapted to have rotative movement imparted thereto through a crank l4. As will be hereinafter described, the crank I4 is adapted to be given an oscillatory movement, so that the stops III are withdrawn from beneath an envelope 4 following the presentation of an envelope to the fastener attaching station and its return with the fastener devices applied thereto.

After an envelope 4 is arrested by the stops l0 5 in engagement with the feed plate 8, it is operated upon by a transfer disk I5, the disk I5 being adapted for oscillatory movement about the axis of a substantially vertical shaft I5, combined with angu'ar movement about a horizontal shaft H, on which a standard I8 carrying the disk I5 and shaft I5 is pivotally supported. As will hereinafter appear, the mechanism controlling the oscillatory movement of the disk |5 with the shaft I5, and the pivotal movement of the standard I8 about the shaft I1, is so timed that when an envelope 4 comes to rest on the stops ID, the transfer disk I 5 is in a retracted position, so that its periphery is separated from the surface of the envelope. Following this, the standard I 8 is swung inwardly toward the plate 8 to cause the periphery of the disk I5 to engage the envelope. Rotation of the disk I5 in one direction with the shaft I6 then causes the envelope to be projected bodily with itssealing flap 4a extended in the direction'of an anvil I9, see Fig. 3, forming part of the fastener attaching mechanism, hereinafter described. During the attachment of the buttons and string to the envelope, the disk I5 remains stationary, with the standard I8 maintaining the disk in engagement with the envelope,

' parted to the disk I5 in the opposite direction,

thereby returning the completed envelope to its previous position in which it is supported by the stops I3, after which the standard I8 is swung away from the plate 8 tordisengage the disk I5 from the envelope. Following disengagement of the disk I5 from the envelope, retraction of the stops I0 permits the envelope to resume itsdownwar-d travel to a stacking device indicated generally by the reference character 20. Movement of each envelope by the transfer disk I5 is accompanied by gaging, hereinafter described.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the stacking device 20 consists of a series of continuously driven belts 2|, downwardly inclined, the belts 2| at their upper ends extending underneath and somewhat beyond the lower edge of the feed plate 8, with combined forwarding and lifter rolls 22 cooperating with the upper faces of the belts 2|. With the belts 2| moving away from plate 8 in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 1, it is evident that as the lower edge of a completed envelope reaches the belts 2| following release by the stops ID, the belts will draw the envelope beneath the rolls 22, thereby causing it to move fiatwise on the belts 2|, with its flap extended. As each envelope 4 moves on to the belts 2 I, notches 22a on the rolls 22 lift the envelopes previously stacked from the belts 2| to permit free travel of the envelope, movement of the envelope being arrested by means of a series of rods 23 extending upwardly between the several belts 2|. Therefore, as successive envelopes are delivered to the belts 2| and engage the rods 23, the envelopes will build up in a stacksupported by the rods 23, as indicated in Fig. 1. Having described the. general functioning of the envelope feeding, transfer and stacking devices, there will next be described the arrangement for driving these several mechanisms in timed relation, so that each complete operating cycle of the machine will result in the delivery of an envelope to the fastener attaching station, its withdrawal with d vces attached thereto and the 'oi ly completed envelope.

Envelope feeding and transfer mechanism As best shown in Fig. 1, the source of power for driving the entire machine is illustrated as an electric motor 24 suitably connected, as by a chain 25, to a shaft 26 mounted on a sub-base Ia at right angles to the shaft I'I. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 7, the drive shaft 28 carries a; bevel gear 21 in mesh with a bevel gear 28 mounted on a countershaft 29 extending parallel to the shaft H on which the standard I8 is pivotally mounted. A sleeve 30 is rotatably Consequently, with the gearin mesh with a bevel gear 33 mounted on a countershaft 34 in axial alinement with the countershaft 29, so that the shaft 34 is driven in unison with the shaft 29 and sleeve 30. The end of the shaft 34 carries a crank arm 35 having a roll 36 at its end adapted to be received in the slots 31 of a. disk 33 mounted on a shaft 39 in axial alinement with the shaft H, the arm 35 and disk 38 constituting a Geneva motion for imparting intermittent rotation to the shaft 39 from the drive shaft 26. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 5, a sprocket wheel 40 turnable with the Geneva disk 33 is connected to a shaft 4| carrying the feed wheels 1 by a chain 42 passing around a sprocket wheel 43: mounted on a cross shaft 43 and a second chain 44 passing around sprocket motion, the feed wheels I will have one complete revolution imparted thereto from the position shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, once during a portion of each complete revolution of the drive shaft, the selectors Ia on the feed wheels I will draw the lower portion of the innermost envelope 4 past the flexible retard 3a and project it downwardly into the space between the feed plates 8 and 9, pull rolls 46 cooperating with the feed wheels l serving to pull the envelope past the retard 3a and direct the envelope in a substantially vertical plane. After the feeding of an envelope 4, the feed wheels I come to'rest in the position shown in Fig. 1, and are stationary during the remainder of the operating cycle represented by one complete revolution of the drive shaft 26.

After an envelope is released from the bite between the selectors Ia and rolls 46, its downward movement along the face of the feed plate 8 is arrested by the stops Ill, at that time in the position shown in Fig. 6, with their ends extending through the slots in plate 9 and butting against the feed plate 8. The outline of an envelopa4, as positioned on the stops I0, is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, with the flap 4a of the envelope extended in the direction of the anvil I 9. As best shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the stops It! are maintained in the envelope arresting position by means of a rod 4'! connected by a swivel block 41a to the crank I4 extending from the cross shaft I3, on which the arms I2 carrying the stops I0 are mounted. The rod 41 extends downwardly and provides at its lower end a forked portion 38 embracing the sleeve 30 and carrying a roll 43a bearing on the surface of a cam 49 mounted on the continuously driven sleeve 30, see Fig. 7. The cam .59 is so timed that the stops it hold an envelope in arrested position until it is engaged by the transfer disk I5, and projected by the latter in the direction of the anvil i9. The stops IQ are then retracted so that upon return of the envelope by the disk l5, following the fastener attaching operation and withdrawal of the disk, the completed envelope will be free to move toward the conveyor belts 21 of the stacking device.

Since the sleeve 38 is driven in unison with the main shaft 26, it follows that once during each operating cycle of the machine, the stops It will be projected into the path of an envelope delivered by the feed Wheel I, and then retracted ior to the return of a completed envelope and its release by the disk l5.

As previously pointed out, the standard l8 carrying the transfer disk i 5 is pivotally mounted on the shaft ii, and this mounting, as best shown in Fig. 5, allows for oscillatory movement of the disk if: independently of pivotal movement of the it. To this end, the lower end of the standard i8 provides a bracket portion 50 bridging the drive shaft 26, with split bearings embracing the opposed end portions of the it ii and of the shaft 39 in alinement therewith. Consequently, the standard I8 is adapted for pivotal movement about the alined axes of the shafts i'i and 39, with the angular position of the standard 18 determined by a pair of links 52'. and 53. As best shown in Fig. 6, one end of 52 is pivotally connected to the standard l8, while one end of link 53 is mounted on a fixed pivot 54, with the other ends of both links pivot-.lly connected by a pin 55. The pin 55 is also carried by the head 56 of a longitudinally adjustable rod 5? extending downwardly, with its lower end providing a forked portion 58 embracing the sleeve 35!, see Fig. '7. The fork 58 carries a roll 58 bearing on the surface of a cam 60 mounted adjacent to the cam 49 and turnable with the sleeve 38. By reason of the fact that the link 53 has one end thereof mounted on the fixed pivot 5-3, vertical movement of the rod 5'! by the cam 60 is adapted to impart an oscillatory movement to the standard is about the axis of the shaft H. The cam 66 is so timed that following the positioning of an envelope by the stops to, the standard ill will be swung to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, to cause the then stationary transfer disk 65 to engage the surface of the envelope and press it against the feed plate 8. The standard it remains in this position during the transfer of the envelope by oscillatory movement of the disk l5, as will next be described, after which the standard 18 is swung to the right to release the completed envelope. 7

As previously pointed out, the disk 15 is rotatably mounted on a shaft it, the shaft it being mounted in bearings Hid provided by the stand- !3, as shown in Fig. 5. The lower end of shaft 55 carries a bevel gear 6| in mesh with a bevel gear 62 carried by a sleeve 62a freely rotatable on the shaft I1, about which the standard it swings. As best shown in Fig. 6, the sleeve 82a provides a segmental disk portion 63 with a radial slot 53a adapted to slidably receive rolls and 65a carried by crank arms 64 and 65, respectively. As best shown in Fig. 4, the arm st carrying the roll 64a is rotatable with the shaft 29, while the arm 65 carrying the roll 65a is rotatable with the sleeve 39. Therefore, since the shaft 29 and the sleeve 30 are driven in opposite directions of rotation from the shaft 26, movement of the rolls 65a and 85a in the slot 63a of the Geneva disk 63 is adapted to impart oscillatory movement to the sleeve 62a.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 6, it is evident that turning of the shaft 29 through part of a revolution will result in the roll 64a imparting rotation in one direction to the transfer disk it, through the Geneva motion and its connection through the bevel gears 6i and 62 to the shaft it. As the roll 64a turning in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, leaves the slot 63a, the disk l5 will come to rest. At this moment, the roll 65a on arm 85, turning in a clockwise direction with the sleeve 36 is approaching the slot 63a and shortly after the roll Sea has cleared the slot, the roll 55a enters the same. Continued movement of the arm 55 with the sleeve Eli causes the roll 65a to turn the Geneva member 63 in the opposite direction from which it was previously turned by the roll 54c, thereby reversing the direction of rotation of the transfer disk l5. Following this, the disk I 5 comes to rest as the roll 65!], leaves the slot 63a.

As a result of the above described functioning of the double Geneva motion, intermittent rotative movement is imparted to the transfer disk [5, first in one direction and then in the other, with a dwell between each rotative movement. The double Geneva motion is so timed with reference to the cam 653 that both rotative movements envelope 4, as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 5, after which the envelope remains stationary during the fastener attaching operations, followed by withdrawal of the envelope to a position clear of the anvil it upon reversal of the disk 85. l he disk It then remains stationary during the swinging movement of the standard it away from the plate 8 to permit release of the finished envelope by the stops ID. The above described cycle of movements of the disk It takes place during each complete revolution of the drive shaft 26, and there will next be described the gaging devices cooperating with the disk to insure proper registration of each envelope with the anvil i 9 and stacking device 29.

Envelope gaging mechanism As best shown in Figs. 5 and 9, the-stationary anvil it carries a gage 65 for the purpose of registering the extended flap and rear wall of each envelope 4 with the fastener attaching mechanism cooperating with the anvil I 9 in a manner hereinafter described. As shown, the gage 65 is in the form of a projecting laterally from the upper surface of the anvil, so that when the disk i5 moves an envelope onto the anvil as previously described, the gage finger will be engaged by the upper edge of the rear wall of the envelope, as indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 5. In order to provide for the proper registration of envelopes of different dimensions on the anvil is by the transfer disk It, the gage 66 is adjustable longitudinally of the anvil I9. To this end, the gage provides a slot 65a, through of which will be hereinafter described.

which passes a set screw 61, so that the gage i: can be secured at different distances from the beveled nose of the anvil I9. I In order to insure that the gage 66 will be always positively engaged by an envelope in proper registration with the fastener attaching devices cooperating with the anvil IS, the transfer disk i5 is so connected to the shaft I6 as to insure that the disk will always tend to move an envelope a little beyond the gage 65, even when the gage Se is set at its maximum distance from the axis of the shaft it. As best shown in Fig. 6, the upper end of the shaft l6 carries a collar Ilia, and a spring 88 encircling the shaft below the collar i5a serves to press friction plates l5a into engagement with the upper and lower faces of the disk 55. Normally the pressure of the spring 55 is suiiicient to cause the plates 15a to turn the disk i5, but when an envelope encounters the gage 66 on the anvil, the resistance to further travel of the envelope causes the friction plates 35a to slip, while the disk 55 remains stationary. The above described frictional connection between the disk 55 and its shaft l6 insures that each envelope will always be accurately registered by the gage 65, without any tendency for the disk E5 to buckle the envelope after its movement has been arrested by the gage.

When the disk I5 is turned in a counterclockdirection, as viewed in Fig. 9, to withdraw a completed envelope from the anvil l9, the movement of the envelope away from the anvil I9 is adapted to be arrested by a second gage '59 exing through one of a series of slots 59a in the feed plate 3, see Fig. 2 The purpose the gage #59 is to bring each completed envelope to rest on the feed plate 8, with its bottom .-.n proper registration with the belts 2| of the stacking device 20, prior to the release of the envelope by the stops Ill. The gage 69 provides a shank portion longitudinally adiusta is in a holder liia that is swiveled on a pivoted gage bracket is, the detail construction and function It is ev ent from a consideration of Fig. 2 that the several gage slots 69a in the feed plate 8 are adapted to receive the end of the gage 69, the

el mounting of the holder lea permitting the to be received in any one of the slots 69a. e the slots 69a are overlapping, it is obvious the gage may be set to register envelopes The amplitude pete envelope so that its rear edge will strike the gage even when the latter is mounted in its position farthest removed from the axis of the shaft in. Thereafter, the frictional drive of the disk 55 from the shaft it operates in the o manner to prevent buckling of the en- "s, as described above with reference to the gage 65. Thus the gages 6B and 69 are adapted to cooperate with the transfer disk l5 such a manner as to always accurately register Automatic control of fastener attaching mechanism As best shown in Fig. 3, a shaft H extending parallel to and above the drive shaft 26 is adapted to control the operation of a group of button and string attaching devices cooperating with the anvil I9, each complete revolution of the shaft ll being adapted to cause a complete cycle of operations of the attaching mechanism. A sleeve '12 loosely mounted on the shaft H is intermittently driven by a chain 12a through a Geneva movement hereinafter described, and the shaft ll is adapted to be operatively connected to the sleeve 12 by means of a clutching element 13 slidably keyed to the shaft H. Movement of the clutching element 13 on the shaft H is under the control of a yoke 14 pivotally mounted at E5, and a spring 16 having one end fixed and its other end connected to the clutching element 13 tends to draw the clutching element 13 in the direction of the sleeve 12, so as to bring projections on the sleeve 12 and element 13 respectively, into clutching engagement, see Fig. 1.

Movement of the clutching element 13 toward the sleeve 12 by the spring 16 is prevented, with the parts in the position of Fig. 1, by means of a rod ll pivotally connected to an arm 18 of the yoke 35. The lower end of the rod 111s connected to one end of a lever 19, having its other end supported on a fixed pivot 89, with a roll 5! bearing on the under face of a cam 82 mounted on the drive shaft 26. The roll 8! is maintained in engagement with the face of cam 82 by means of the spring 16, pulling on the yoke "M, and the cam 82 is so timed that during a portion of each revolution of the drive shaft 26, upward movement will be imparted to the rod 11 to permit the spring 16 to draw the clutching element 53 into engagement with the sleeve 12, provided however that an envelope has been fed by the wheels I.

The arrangement for preventing the engagement of the clutching element 13 with the sleeve '22, in the event of the failure of an envelope to feed, consists of a stop plunger 83 extending in the direction of a stop lug 84 provided on the yoke is when the latter is in the position shown in Fig. 1. As long as the plunger 83 remains in this position, its engagement by the lug 84 will prevent the yoke 14 from turning about its pivot 15 to the dotted line position, even when the yoke is released by the cam 82, and is otherwise free to move in response to the pull of the spring 16. The plunger 83 is carried by a piston 83a, shown in dotted lines, within a cylinder 85 and a pipe 36 leading to the cylinder 85 is adapted to exhaust the cylinder and cause withdrawal of the plunger 33 to the dotted line position of Fig. l.

For the purpose of exhausting the cylinder 85, a suitable source of suction is provided, such as for example, a cylinder 81 having a piston 88 therein connected to an eccentric 89 mounted on the end of the drive shaft 26. A pipe 90 leads from the cylinder 87 to a port 9| provided in the feed plate 8, the port 9| being adjacent a similar port $2 connected to the end of the pipe 86 leading from the cylinder 85. As best shown in Fig. 2, the ports 81 and 92 are connected by a groove as provided on the front face of the plate 8 with which the envelopes come into contact. In the absence of an envelope in engagement with the plate 3, movement of the piston 88 in the cylinder 87! merely sucks in air through the open port 9!. However, with an envelope 4 held in engagement with the plate 8, the ports 9| and 92 will be covered, so that suction created in the cylinder 87 will be transmitted to the cylinder 85 through the pipes 93 and 85, and the groove between the covered plate ports 9I and 92. As a result, the cylinder 85 can be exhausted to retract the plunger 83 only when an envelope is delivered to the feed plate 8.

As previously pointed out, the feed wheels I are adapted to feed an envelope 4 downwardly against the plate 8 at the beginning of a cycle of operations resulting from one complete revolution of the drive shaft 26. The eccentric 89 operating the piston 88 in the cylinder 8'! is so timed that suction is being created at the port 9I at about the time of the arrival of an envelope 4 at the plate. Consequently, before the transfer disk engages the envelope preparatory to moving it onto the anvil I9, the exhaustion of air from the cylinder 85 results in retraction of the plunger 83. The cam 82 controlling the yoke I4 is sotimed that following the retraction of the plunger 83, the yoke H is free to turn under the pull of the spring it to permit shifting of the clutching element 73 into engagement with the sleeve 2, which at that time is stationary. Following engagement of the clutching element I3 with the sleeve rotative movement is imparted to the sleeve ?2 by the chain 52a through the previously mentioned Geneva motion, which is best shown in Figs. 3 and i.

The chain 12a fordriving the sleeve I2 passes around teeth formed on the periphery of a disk 9-3 loosely mounted on the drive shaft 26, and the radial slots 95 of the disk 94 are adapted to receive diametrically opposed rolls 9'6 mounted on a driving member 91, see Fig. 4. The member 9'? of the Geneva motion is mounted for free rotation on a countersnaft 98 spaced from and extending parallel to the drive shaft 26, and a gear 88 carried by the member 91 is driven from the shaft 26 through a pinion Iilfl on the shaft 25 and an interposed idler gear lill. tween the teeth on the pinion I88 and on the gear 99, and between the teeth on the Geneva d sk 94 and on the sleeve I2, issuch that with the shaft 'lI clutched to the sleeve 72, the shaft ll will he turned through one complete revolution, and then come to rest during substantially one half of a revolution of the main drive shaft 25. This is due to the fact that the driving member 8'! of the Geneva motion makes only one-half of a revolution for each complete revolution of the drive shaft 25.

Therefore, the above described driving arrangement for the sleeve I2 results in the sleeve 52 being turned through one complete revolution during only a portion, substantially one-half, of the operating cycle represented by one complete revolution of the drive shaft 25. The cam 82 controlling the clutching element "I3 is so timed that following the delivery of an envelope to the feed plate 8 and the withdrawal of the stop plunger 83, as previously described, the element '13 will be moved into clutching engagement with the sleeve l2, while the latter is still stationary. The shaft ll having been clutched to the sleeve I2, the following rotation of the sleeve 12 through one complete revolution causes a complete cycle of operation of the fastener attaching devices driven from the shaft ii. The sleeve 72 thereupon comes to rest, as a roll 96 disengages the Geneva disk as, after which the cam 82 turns the lever I9 to impart downward movement to the rod 71, and cause the latter to turn the yoke I4 and disengage the clutching element 73 from the sleeve 12.

The ratio be- When the yoke I4 is moved from the dotted line position to the full line position of Fig. 1 to disengage the clutching element I3, as just described, the end of the stop lug 84 engages a bevel surface 8322 on the plunger 83, thereby forcing the plunger 83 into the cylinder 85 to permit movement of the lug 84 to a substantially vertical position. The plunger 83 thereupon returns to the position shown in Fig. 1, under the pressure of a spring, shown in dotted lines, acting on piston 83a, in which it remains until its retraction by suction upon the delivery of an'envelope to the feed plate 8 at the beginning of an operating cycle. From the foregoing, it is apparent that the shaft II for driving the fastener attaching devices is normally disconnected from the continuously rotating drive shaft 26, and cannot be connected thereto unless an envelope is actually delivered to the feed plate 8 for transfer to the anvil I9 by the disk I5. Upon the positioning of an envelope 4 upon the anvil I9 with its seal flap 4a extended, as indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 5, the envelope remains stationary during the dwell between the rotative movements of the transfer disk I5; and the shaft 'II is turned through one complete revolution during this pe-v riod to cause a full cycle of operation of the fastener attaching devices, as will next be described.

Fastener attaching devices As best shown in Fig. 3, the table I carries on the left hand side of. the anvil I9 a pair of reciprocatory punches I92 and I83 spaced from each other in a horizontal p ane in which also lies the transfer disk I5 when the latter is in engagement with an envelope. The punches I02 and 33 provide operatf...g heads lilila and 803a connected by a rod l l 'l for rcciprocatory movement in unison by means of a link I35 connected to a crank 55. The crank m3 is carried by one end of a shaft rotatably mounted on the table l, the other end of the shaft It; being connected through bevel gears 5533 to the intermittently op erated shaft H. The table I also carries a third punch i 2! on the right hand side of the anvil I9 in axial alinement with the punch I83, the punch I233 providing a head I I8 suitably slotted to receive a roll l i I carried at the end of a crank I I2 mounted on a shaft I! I3. The shaft H3 is driven through bevel gears IM from the shaft H, and the gearing and cranks liit and H2 are so arranged that one complete revolution of the shaft ll, following the feeding of an envelope Q as previously described, imparts a complete reciprocatory movement to the several punches I02, I03 and 1&9.

As best shown in Fig. 1, vertical guideways H5 are provided in line with the several punches I02, I63 and I99 to lead a corresponding number of washer strips I I6 from supply reels I Ilia mounted under the table I, see Fig. 2, to cooperating pairs of feed rolls II'I' mounted on suitable brackets above the several punches. The feed rolls I I1 above the punches I92 and I03 respectively, are connected for rotation in unison by a shaft I I8, which is extended to carry a ratchet wheel II9 engaged by a pawl I20 carried by a swinging arm I2I mounted freely on the shaft H8. The arm I2I is connected to a link I22 actuated by a cam I23 mounted on the left hand punch operating shaft Ifll, the cam I23 being so timed that the washer strips II6 are fed upwardly in advance of the operation of the punches I02 and I03. The feed rolls II'I over the right hand punch I09 are similarly driven from the other punch actuating shaft II3 by a cam I23 acting through a link I 22' to advance the pawl II9. Each of the punches I02, I03 and I09 has associated therewith an auxiliary punch I24 movable in unison therewith in the same vertical plane, as shown in Fig. 1. Each punch I24 serves to perforate the corresponding washer strip II6, the perforations thus formed being alined with the corresponding punches I02, I03 and I09 upon upward feeding of the strips II6 by the rolls III.

Metallic eyelets I25 are adapted to be applied to the punches I02 and I09 by eyelet guides I26, see Fig. 9, which are supplied from suitable hoppers, not shown, these hoppers being under the control of rods I21 actuated by cams I28 mounted on the shaft 'II to cause delivery of eyelets to the guides I26. Each eyelet guide I26 has associated therewith a delivery mechanism actuated by a rod I29 operated from a cam I30 on the shaft II. Each of these rods I29 serves to deliver one eyelet at a time to the lower end of a guide I26 in a manner more fully shown and described in Patent No. 1,558,065 issued October 20, 1925, to Urbanowitz.

As best shown in Fig. 9, the anvil I9 is supported by the table I with a clearance between its left hand vertical face and the dies cooperating with the punches I02 and I24 to permit positioning of the body portion of the envelope over the anvil by the transfer disk I5. Therefore, the punch I02 by its operation is adapted to remove a metal eyelet I25 from the guide I26 and carry it with a washer cut from the strip I I6 to the body of the envelope through which the eyelet is forced by the punch I02 against a setting die I3! carried by the anvil I9. An even greater clearance is left between the right hand vertical anvil face and the dies cooperating with the punches I09 and I24 to permit positioning of the flap 4a of the envelope in extended position, and also to permit the string feeding devices to be moved into cooperative relation with the punch I09 so as to feed a string I32 through an aperture previously made in the strip II6 by the auxiliary punch I24 below punch I09.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the string feeding device consists of a conical nose I33 carried at the end of an arm I34 turnable with a shaft I35 extending above the punch I09 and parallel thereto, see Fig. 3. The other end of the shaft I35 carries an arm I36 pivotally connected to a link I31 extending downwardly and carrying a roll I38 bearing on a cam I39 carried by the shaft II. The shaft II also carries a cam I40 for actuating a bar I4I, to operate a string gripper, hereinafter referred to, and another cam I42 on shaft II serves to operate a rock shaft I43 connected to a rod I44, which actuates a string feeding mechanism on the arm I34 through a rack I45, indicated in Fig. 2. As the construction and operation of the string feeding and gripping devices referred to above are all fully shown and described in the aforesaid Patent No. 1,558,065, a brief statement of the cycle of operations resulting from one revolution of the shaft II after an envelope has been placed on the anvil I9 by the transfer disk I will suffice for the purposes of the present application.

After an envelope 4 has been positioned on the anvil I9, by the transfer disk I5, with its body portion covering the solid anvil die I3I and its extended flap 4a covering the open anvil die I3 la, the shaft II is turned through one complete revolution, in response to the functioning of the previously described detecting device which permits the clutching element I3 to engage the sleeve I2 before the latter is driven through the Geneva motion from the main shaft 25. As the shaft II rotates, the punches I92, I03 and I09 start to move towards the envelope from both sides of 5 the anvil I9 and the several Washer strips I I6 are fed upwardly to bring the. perforations formed in said strips by the preceding operation of the auxiliary punches I24 in line with the axes of the approaching punches. At the same time, the string feeding arm I34 is advanced from the position shown in Fig. 2, so that its nose I33 enters an aperture I46 formed in a plate I41 on which the feed rack I45 is mounted, see Fig. 9. At this time it will be understood that an aperture formed in the washer strip I I6 by the auxiliary punch I24 and an eyelet I25 in the guide I26 are axially alined with the approaching punch I59. However, before the punch I09 has been advanced sufficiently to remove an eyelet, the string I32 is fed through the washer strip perforation by the operation of the rack I45 for seizure by gripping jaws I40 under control of cam I49 and bar I4I, whereupon the arm I34 is swung to move the nose I33 out of the path of the approaching punch I99. The feeding arm I34 being held momentarily in this position, the gripping jaws I48 are. opened and the punch I09 advances to remove an eyelet I25 from the guide I26 and position it in the perforation in the washer strip. Since the perforation in the washer strip is a close fit for the eyelet I25, the string I32 previously fed through the perforation from the nose I33 is jammed between the eyelet I25 and the edge of the perforae tion, and thereby held securely enough to retain it in position. Immediately upon the string being retained in the washer strip by the eyelet, the punch I99 continues its forward movement to punch a washer from the strip and carry it and the attached eyelet and string toward the flap 4a of the envelope.

At the same time the punch I93 on the opposite side of the anvil is advanced to punch a washer from its strip in cooperation with the anvil die I 3Ia, this washer being held on the end of the punch I03 by a projection I49 adapted also to receive the eyelet I25 on punch I99 and set the same after it has been forced through the envelope flap by the punch I09 cooperating with punch I03. This setting operation forces the 50 eyelet through the washer carried by punch I93, and thus secures washers on either side of the flap 4a. of the envelope, with one end portion of the string I32 securely clamped between the eyelet and the washer on the outer flap surface, and with a slack portion of the string running to the nose I33.

During the setting of an eyelet I25 in the. envelope flap 4a in the manner just described, the punch I 02 advances to remove an eyelet from the corresponding guide. I26, and continued motion of the punch I02 forces this eyelet through a washer perforation. The punch I92 thereafter punches a washer from the strip I I5, and carries both washer and eyelet against the body portion of the envelope, as supported by the left hand anvil face, to force the eyelet through the envelope Wall against the setting die I3I. The setting of the eyelets I25 and washers on both the envelope body and flap occur substantially simultaneously.

By the time that the eyelets have been set in the envelope, the string feeding arm I34 reaches a fully retracted position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby carrying a portion of the string just beyond the nose I33 between the then opened 7 blades I58 of a cutting device mounted adjacent to the shaft TI. Just after the string has been positioned between the opened blades I53, a cam iiil on the shaft TI operates the blades to sever the string I 32 in a manner fully set forth and described in the aforesaid Patent No. 1,558,065. The operation of the cutting blades I523 occurs at substantially the same time that the envelope is released by backward movement of the several punches W2, W3, I69 and IN, and as the punches reach their fully retracted position at the end of the operating cycle, the shaft ii comes to rest. The transfer disk i5 is thereupon rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, to withdraw the envelope from the anvil I 9 with the washers, eyelets and string attached thereto. The withdrawal movement of the envelope by the disk l 5 is sufficient to fully clear the flap ad from the anvil, the loose, length of the string carried by the flap extending downwardly from the flap, so that it clears all parts of the machine, the movement of the completed envelope being limited by gagev 69, as described above. Obviously, continued rotation of the drive shaft will cause the stops it to be withdrawn from the slots ii in the guide plate 9 by operation of the rod fl, whereupon the completed envelop-e will fall in the space between the feed plate 8 and guide plate 5 until its lowermost edge is engaged by the belts 2i, and the envelope conveyed thereby to the stack, as shown in Fig. 1.

As soon as the shaft II comes to rest, the clutching element 73 is withdrawn from the then stationary driven sleeve 72 by the yoke I l, and all' the punches I532, I63, I98 and I25 remain in their retracted positions, awaiting the initiation of the next operating cycle. However, as previously pointed out, the shaft ll will not be connected to the Geneva motion, as operated from the shaft 25, until after the next envelope has been actual- 1y fed downwardly by the selectors la, and has been properly positioned by the stops II! for movement onto the anvil I9 by the transfer disk I5.

Adjustment and operation of the machine In setting up the machine for operation on envelopes of a given size, the stop fingers iii are first vertically adjusted in the slots II, so as to arrest the downward movement of each envelope with its center line exactly in alinement with the cente line of the anvil I 9, as shown in Fig. 5. This insures that the cooperating punches and dies will accurately apply the eyelets and washers to the center of the rear wall of the envelope and the substantial center of the extended flap C-a. It will also be noted that the transfer disk 55 lies substantially in the horizontal plane in which the cooperating pairs of punches operate, so that for any given setting of the stop fingers iii in the slots ii, the transfer disk I5 will engage the ar rested envelope on the stop fingers substantially along its center line.

As best shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the cross shaft !3 on which the arms l2 carrying the stops I9 are mounted is rotatably supported at its ends in bearing brackets I52 vertically adjustable on the stops 5 8 and register envelopes of different widths with the axis of the anvil I9.

With the stops I properly set, the gage 55 1s 1 next adjusted longitudinally of the anvil I9, so

that when an envelope supported by the stops it is projected onto the anvil I9 by the transfer disk l 5, the gage will arrest the movement of the envelope with its extended flap and rear wall exactly in register with the cooperating sets of punches of the fastener attaching mechanism. The withdrawal stop gage 69 is adjusted on its bracket I0, so that the gage will limit movement of a completed envelope as it is withdrawn from the anvil I9 by turning of the transfer disk It in the opposite direction. The gage 89 is set so that the envelope flap 4a will be fully withdrawn from the anvil with the loose length'of string carried by the flap extending downwardly to clear the fastener attaching mechanism, and the envelope body will therefore fall freely to the stacking device when released by the stops I I].

As previously pointed out, the invention also contemplates counting the completed envelopes handled by the machine and to this end, there is provided an arrangement for stacking the envelopes in such a manner that one envelope of a predetermined number, or group, will extend further from the stack than the remaining envelopes of the group. As best shown in Figs. e, is and 11, the bracket I9 carrying the swiveled holder its: for the gage 69 is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis on pins I56, so that swinging of the bracket iii in a clockwise direction as iewed in Fig. 9, will withdraw the gage 59 from the feed plate slot 69a, as indicated in dotted lines. Normally the bracket Iii is maintained in the position shown in Fig. 9 with its gage extending through the slot 680. by a spring I? pressing on an arm I58 turnable with the bracket 33, and as long as the gage 69 remains in this position, the completed envelopes will be stacked evenly, as indicated in Fig. 2.

As best shown in Fig. 9, the arm I53 carried by the gage bracket Til is pivotally connected to one end of a rod I59, the other end of which provides a forkedportion I591; embracing a shaft its on which is mounted a cam IfiI. The forked portion I59a carries a roll I 62, and the spring l5? acting on the arm I 58 yieldingly maintains the roll 552 in engagement with the surface of the cam I 5i. A ratchet wheel I63 is turnable with the cam lGi and as best shown in Fig. 10, an arm I54 turnable freely on the shaft I 58 carries a pawl I65 adapted to engage with the ratchet teeth M311. The free end of the pawl carrying arm I54 is pivotally connected by a link 96% to the extended end of the rod 864 carrying the punch heads I021; and "130., so that each movement of the punches I92 and M3 to the right causes the pawl I55 to turn the ratchet wheel I63 and cam I5I through the displacement of one ratchet tooth.

The cam ltl is so designed that its surface is circular except for a projection IBIa extending for the displacement of one ratchet tooth 553a. Consequently, as the cam I 6I is turned with a step-by-step movement in cooperation with the punch 952, no turning movement will be imparted to the gage holder Ill, and the gage so will remain in the position shown in Fig. 9. Hoiever, when a number of completed envelopes corresponding to the number of ratchet teeth I3a has passed through the machine, the cam projection I8 Ia moves the rod I59 to the right, thereby turning the bracket 10 in a clockwise direction to withdraw the gage 69 from its slot 69a into the dotted line position. When this occurs, the next completed envelope withdrawn from the anvil I9 by the transfer disk I5 will move beyond the position previously occupied by the gage 69, as the disk I5 completes its turning movement without slippage of the friction plates I5a, and obviously when the envelope controlled by the full turn of the disk I5 is stacked, it will project further from the stack than the remainder of the envelopes in a given group. As shown in Fig. 10, the ratchet wheel I63 provides twenty-five teeth I63a, so that one envelope in every twenty-five will project from the pile of envelopes in the stacking device 26, as shown in Fig. 1, although obviously the number of envelopes in each group may be varied as desired. Upon the succeeding operation of the punch I02 following the withdrawal of the gage E39, the roll I62 returns to the position shown in Fig. 10, thereby restoring the gage 69 to its original position. Since the envelope counting mechanism is operated directly by one of the fastener punches and the operation of the entire fastener attaching mechanism is in turn dependent upon the feed of an envelope, it necessarily follows that only completed envelopes are counted during the operation of the machine.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that by the present invention there is provided a machine entirely automatic in its operation for removing flat blanks, such as envelopes, from a supply, and presenting them one by one for the attachment of washers, eyelets and a string to the rear wall andextended iiap of each envelope. Following the attachment of the fastening devices to an envelope, it is Withdrawn and released for conveyance to the stacking device, one envelope out of each group projecting from the stack for convenient counting and packing. While the machine is adapted to make one complete cycle of operations for each revolution of the drive shaft, the feeding of washer strip, eyelets and string is automatically dependent upon the actual arrival of an envelope at the transfer station, thereby eliminating possible clogging of the machine by washers, eyelets and string, upon failure of an envelope to feed.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for supporting on edge a supply of flat blanks such as envelopes, an anvil disposed in a vertical plane below said envelope supply, means for feeding strip material on opposite sides of said anvil and parallel thereto, and punches operating at right angles to said anvil for forming washers from said strip, of means for removing envelopes one by one from said supply and guiding each envelope for free downward movement in the plane of said anvil, means for arresting such downward movement of each envelope in register with said anvil and spaced therefrom, and means for shifting each envelope from its arrested position onto said anvil for the attachment of washers thereto.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for supporting on edge a supply of fiat blanks such as envelopes, an anvil disposed in a vertical plane below said envelope supply, means for feeding strip material on opposite sides of said anvil and parallel thereto, and punches operating at right angles to said anvil for forming washers from said strip, of means for removing envelopes one by one from said supply and guiding each envelope for free downward movement in the plane of said anvil but spaced therefrom, means for arresting such downward movement of each envelope with its center line coinciding with the center line of said anvil, and means for shifting each envelope from its arrested position onto said anvil for the attachment of washers thereto by said punches, as well as for withdrawing each envelope from said anvil following the attachment of said washers.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for supporting on edge a supply of flat blanks such as envelopes, an anvil disposed below said envelope supply, means for feeding strip material on opposite sides of said anvil and parallel thereto, and punches operating at right angles to said anvil for forming washers from said strip, of means for removing envelopes one by one from said supply and guiding each envelope for free downward movement in the plane of said anvil but spaced therefrom, means for arresting such downward movement of each envelope with its center line coinciding with the center line of said anvil, and means for shifting each envelope from its arrested position onto said anvil for the attachment of washers thereto by said punches, as well as for withdrawing each envelope from said anvil following the attachment of said washers, said strip feeding means and said punches being automatically maintained in an inoperative condition until after the arrival of an envelope in register with said anvil.

4. In a machine of the classdescribed, the combination With a support for a supply of fiat blanks, such as envelopes, means for removing envelopes one by one from said supply, an anvil displaced from the line of movement of said envelopes, and means for bringing each envelope to rest in the plane of said anvil, of an oscillatory transfer member adapted to engage each envelope and move it onto and off of said anvil, and means for positively arresting movement of an envelope in either direction by said transfer member.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a support for a supply of flat blanks on edge, such as envelopes,means for removing envelopes one by one from said supply and guiding each envelope for free downward movement, an anvil displaced in a vertical plane from the line of movement of said envelopes, and means for bringing each envelope to rest in the plane of said anvil, of an oscillatory transfer member adapted to engage each envelope and move it onto said anvil and gaging means carried by said anvil for positively determining the position of the envelope thereon.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a support for a supply of flat blanks, such as envelopes, means for removing envelopes one by one from said supply, an anvil displaced from the line of movement of said envelopes, and means for bringing each envelope to rest in the plane of said anvil, of an oscillatory transfer member adapted to engage each envelope and move it onto and off of said anvil, and gaging members carried by said anvil and a stationary portion of said machine for positively limiting movement of an envelope onto or off of said anvil.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a support for a supply of flat blanks, such as envelopes, means for removing envelopes one by one from said supply, an anvil displaced from the line of movement of said envelopes, and means for bringing each envelope to rest in the plane of said anvil, of an oscillatory transfer member adapted to engage each envelope and move it onto and off of said anvil, and gaging members carried by said anvil and a stationary portion of said machine for positively limiting movement of an envelope onto or off of said anvil, said transfer member being frictionally driven to prevent buckling'of an envelope upon engagement with a gaging member.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for supporting on edge a supply of flat blanks such as envelopes, means for removing envelopes one by one from said supply and for guiding each envelope for free downward movement, an anvil displaced in a vertical plane from the line of movement of said envelopes, and means for bringing each envelope to rest in the plane of said anvil, of an oscillatory transfer member adapted to engage an envelope in its arrested position and move it onto and off of said anvil, with said envelope remaining stationary on said anvil during a dwell in the oscillatory movement of said transfer member.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for supporting on edge a supply of fiat blanks such as envelopes, means for removing envelopes one by one from said supply and for guiding each envelope for free downward movement, an anvil displaced in a vertical plane from the line of movement of said envelopes, and means for bringing each envelope to rest in the plane of said anvil, of an oscillatory transfer member adapted to be first moved into engagement with an envelope in its arrested position, then to shift said envelope onto said anvil, then to withdraw said envelope from said anvil, with a dwell in the oscillatory movement of said member during which it remains on the said anvil.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a support for a supply of flat blanks such as envelopes, means for removing envelopes one by one from said supply, an anvil displaced from the line of movement of said envelopes, and means for bringing each envelope to rest in the plane of said anvil, of a transfer disk pivotally mounted about one axis to engage and disengage an envelope in its arrested position, and rotatably mounted about another axis to move an envelope onto and off of said anvil.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a support for a supply of flat blanks such as envelopes, means for removing envelopes one by one from said supply, an anvil displaced from the line of movement of said envelopes, and means for bringing each envelope to rest in the plane of said anvil, of a rotatably and pivotally mounted transfer disk adapted to be swung into engagement with an envelope in its arrested position and by its rotation first in one direction and then in the other to move an envelope onto and off of said anvil.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a support for a supply of fiat blanks, such as envelopes, an envelope stacking device, means for feeding flexible strip, cooperating punches for forming washers from said strip, dies cooperating therewith, means for removing envelopes one by one from said supply and means for presenting each envelope to the operation of said punches and dies for the attachment of washers thereto, as well as for withdrawing each envelope from said punches and dies following the attachment of washers thereto, of means for conveying each complete envelope to said stacking device, and means comprising a gaging member responsive to the operation of said punches for permitting offsetting of an envelope in the stack following the delivery of a predetermined number of completed envelopes thereto.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a support for a supply of fiat blanks, such as envelopes, an envelope stacking device, means for feeding flexible strip, punches for forming washers from said strip, dies cooperating therewith, means for removing envelopes one by one from said supply and means for presenting each envelope to the operation of said punches and dies for the attachment of washers thereto, as Well as for Withdrawing each envelope from said punches and dies following the attachment of washers thereto for delivery to said stacking device, of a gaging member adapted to register each completed envelope with said stacking device, and meanscontrolled by said fastened attaching devices for rendering said gaging member inoperative after a predetermined number of envelopes have been delivered tosaid stacking device.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying a string and a string anchoring device to the flap and body of an envelope, envelope feeding means, arresting means and transfer means, of means dependent upon the feeding and arrestation of an envelope for controlling the operation of said string and anchorage applying means upon a transferred envelope.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying a string and a string anchoring device to the flap and body of an envelope, of automatically cooperating envelope feeding means, arresting means and stacking means.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying a string and a string anchoring device to the flap and body of an envelope, of continuously operating envelope feeding means, arresting means and stacking means, with said string and anchorage applying means operating only when an envelope is detected at the arresting station.

1'7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for applying a string and a string anchoring device to the flap and body of an envelope, of automatically cooperating envelope feeding means, arresting means, stacking means and counting means.

18. In a machine of the class described, the 

